Reviews

Bird Box, by Josh Malerman

ksraines217's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

crowgirl1990's review against another edition

4.0

Well. Now the movie is out. Guess I’ve gotta watch it.

I remember this book being really hard to put down. I devoured it. It was creepy but parts of have stuck with me.

blkwwwaffle's review against another edition

5.0

The tone, the character development, the suspense...wow. I thoroughly enjoyed every single page in this book, even the short scenes when nothing creepy was going on. The book is quite different in comparison to the movie (coming from someone who watched the movie first), so if you feel uncertain buying or checking this book out at your local library, don't be. Take a chance, you might just enjoy it as much as I did.

Note: I read this book in January, but didn't have Goodreads so here's my review now.

prinsaintrecarti's review against another edition

3.0

It wasn't bad, but it wasn't spectacular either. I expected a bit more, the plot wasn't so rich it was pretty boring. I wanted more answers.

thatsciencedad's review against another edition

2.0

Nope. Nada.

I get that the unknown is scary. I understand that one's imagination can conjuer up some henious images - BUT - there is nothing to go on here. Nada. Crap Characters and a hilarious ending make it a pretty weak "horror' entry.

xilaneda's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

spejamchr's review against another edition

2.0

Okay story. Writing was a bit annoying. The whole thing was pretty predictable.

The best part was when the new guy (Rob?) showed up.

The writing felt odd in places, enough so that I couldn't get into the book.

alexchandler's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

shaank's review against another edition

4.0

Bird Box takes fear of the dark/unseen to a whole new level. The basic premise is that something unknown has appeared that causes anyone who sees it to immediately kill themselves. No one is sure what it is nor are they clear about how to keep safe.

It's a simple idea, kinda gimmicky and reminiscent of those late 90s/early 2000s Japanese horror movies. But, Malerman's a better writer than that. Instead of cheap trills or some gorefest, he uses familiar elements to craft a unique novel that relies on atmosphere and imagery. It reminded me of post-punk bands like Joy Division in how blank space and quietness move to the foreground. The pacing is quick, which adds to the tension, and the characters are more like sketches, adding to the mystery. The result is one of the most unsettling books that I've read. I'm excited to see what this author does for a follow-up. 4.5 stars.

Also, I have to mention how much I loved the scenes in the house. The vibe was straight out of the original Night of the Living Dead and it really won me over.

joshhansonhorror's review against another edition

4.0

I watched the Netflix movie when it came out and was pretty underwhelmed, but I’ve been on a Malerman kick, and it seems that the movie shares only a very general shape with the book.

Unlike anything else if Malerman’s, and not my favorite, but still a commitment to a weird, post-apocalyptic “what if.”